Arsene Wenger has hinted Theo Walcott could be allowed to leave Arsenal in the summer as he struggles for first-team football.

The 27-year-old forward has again battled with injury this season, while the emergence of Alex Iwobi and Joel Campbell have pushed his nose further out of joint.

Walcott has been heavily linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium, with Liverpool known to be in the hunt, and Wenger has not ruled it out.

“I don’t know yet,” Wenger revealed when asked if Walcott could leave. “I’m not in transfer mode at the moment, but I think he has gone through a bad spell. He has responded very well, because he said: ‘Okay, I will work harder and more.’

“Even when he comes on now, you see he is motivated and focused. Let’s see how well he finishes the season now.

“You have the emergence of a guy like Iwobi. But the players that did not play [against West Brom]: Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and I forget a few that weren’t even in the squad.

“All these players will be frustrated, or the guys who go out will be frustrated. Welbeck didn’t play, Campbell didn’t play.”